Anonymous wrote:My DC is taking 3rd year of language as a sophomore (was able to get credit for level 1&2 through credit exam) and planning to take AP level as a junior. No plans to take any foreign language senior year but will have very rigorous course load with mostly AP or post AP classes at TJ. Will DC be competitive enough with regard to foreign language classes in HS for top colleges?

Anonymous wrote:What if a kid took 2 years in one language and 2 years in another? Do they look down on that?

Anonymous wrote:What if a kid took 2 years in one language and 2 years in another? Do they look down on that?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is completing his third year of HS Foreign Language as a Sophomore this school year. He is thinking of stopping at three years. He will probably take some AP class of greater interest in its place.

Would only 3 years of Language hurt his chances at UVA admission and how seriously would it hurt? UVA is the most selective college he is likely to apply to. He is tracking towards a decent chance of admission in other ways - GPA, Test Score, Sport & Activities etc.

You need four years for top schools and UVA. If you exhaust four years, you should take an AP language. Your student should be taking the most rigorous course of studies in all fields.

May be true for UVA but definitely NOT true for most other elite. They care about taking rigor, not language. If your kid is taking AP Psychology or AP Spanish, they do not care!! Only Most rigorous course load matters.

Anonymous wrote:My DC has a friend who didn't go for the 4th year of their language in 11th grade while my DC proceeded. This surprised me as I thought this would affect college chances. But the friend did take Year 4 in 12th grade. And has just been accepted to UVA.

My DC got accepted ED to their first choice and withdrew UVA application so we'll never know, but I do think it helps a lot.

Anonymous wrote:My son is completing his third year of HS Foreign Language as a Sophomore this school year. He is thinking of stopping at three years. He will probably take some AP class of greater interest in its place.

Would only 3 years of Language hurt his chances at UVA admission and how seriously would it hurt? UVA is the most selective college he is likely to apply to. He is tracking towards a decent chance of admission in other ways - GPA, Test Score, Sport & Activities etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is completing his third year of HS Foreign Language as a Sophomore this school year. He is thinking of stopping at three years. He will probably take some AP class of greater interest in its place.

Would only 3 years of Language hurt his chances at UVA admission and how seriously would it hurt? UVA is the most selective college he is likely to apply to. He is tracking towards a decent chance of admission in other ways - GPA, Test Score, Sport & Activities etc.

You need four years for top schools and UVA. If you exhaust four years, you should take an AP language. Your student should be taking the most rigorous course of studies in all fields.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is completing his third year of HS Foreign Language as a Sophomore this school year. He is thinking of stopping at three years. He will probably take some AP class of greater interest in its place.

Would only 3 years of Language hurt his chances at UVA admission and how seriously would it hurt? UVA is the most selective college he is likely to apply to. He is tracking towards a decent chance of admission in other ways - GPA, Test Score, Sport & Activities etc.

Not a big sample size but I know 6 kids who are at UVA and every single one of them had 4+ years of language. Some had 6 with middle school. My assessment is UVA is fanatical about languages. My child was off the charts with test scores and grades but only 3 years language and was denied. In my view, it matters A LOT.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is completing his third year of HS Foreign Language as a Sophomore this school year. He is thinking of stopping at three years. He will probably take some AP class of greater interest in its place.

Would only 3 years of Language hurt his chances at UVA admission and how seriously would it hurt? UVA is the most selective college he is likely to apply to. He is tracking towards a decent chance of admission in other ways - GPA, Test Score, Sport & Activities etc.

Not a big sample size but I know 6 kids who are at UVA and every single one of them had 4+ years of language. Some had 6 with middle school. My assessment is UVA is fanatical about languages. My child was off the charts with test scores and grades but only 3 years language and was denied. In my view, it matters A LOT.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is completing his third year of HS Foreign Language as a Sophomore this school year. He is thinking of stopping at three years. He will probably take some AP class of greater interest in its place.

Would only 3 years of Language hurt his chances at UVA admission and how seriously would it hurt? UVA is the most selective college he is likely to apply to. He is tracking towards a decent chance of admission in other ways - GPA, Test Score, Sport & Activities etc.

Mom to 3 current or very recent UVA students. If your son is applying to college of arts and sciences the answer is yes, he needs to take a language all 4 years of HS if he wants a decent chance at admission. He will also be required to take 2 more years of a foreign language at UVA unless he earns a 5 on an AP foreign language exam (don’t think a 4 satisfies but it may depend on the language) or a similarly high score on an IB language exam.

What about if student is applying to engineering school at UVA? 3 years of foreign language ok then?